8-Day Northern Circuit Safari: Tanzania Big Five & Beyond

The drive will initially start on paved road toward Arusha, before turning left onto gravel road about 30 minutes later. The road will take you through gorgeous African countryside past bush land, dry riverbeds, baobab and acacia trees. Chemka means “boil” in the Swahili language. To reach to the Chemka spring we will pass through Boma ng’ombe located in nearby Kilimanjaro Airport (between Arusha and Moshi). Distance from the main paved road to the Chemka spring is about 18km but it takes one hour because it’s off-road. During the road trip on the unpaved off-road, you cannot imagine finding hot springs and even water. When you reach the acacia and baobab tree, you will arrive at a natural pool with clean and warm water (human temperature) which will make you feel like paradise in the middle of dry land. Afterwards drive to Karatu.

Overnight at Siafu Serenity Lodge in Karatu – all meals included

Distance: 139 km. Non–game viewing time: 3 – 4 hrs.

After breakfast at your hotel/lodge in Moshi meet our safari manager and your driver guide for a short safari briefing before departing for Tarangire National Park via Arusha town for any last-minute purchases. The driving is along the Masaai steppe and through many villages all the way to Tarangire gate. Tarangire is the fifth largest national park in Tanzania located at the base of the Great East African Rift Valley. The park runs along the Tarangire River and is made up with high hills and low land dominated by acacia woodlands and huge baobab trees that dwarf some animal species that stand beneath it. The Tarangire River, which runs from north to south of the park and a swamp on the south corner, are the permanent source of water in the park for a large number of animals during the dry season.

Another major highlight of this park is the large population of elephants & the three rare species of Great Kudu, Fringed Eared Oryx & the Ash Stalling. You may also expect to spot herds of buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, warthog, hippos, giraffe and a big number of baboons & monkeys. Predators like lion, leopard, cheetah, jackals & hyena are also inhabiting the park. For bird watchers this is the paradise as over 400 bird species where recorded here which includes ostrich, herons, secretary bird & other migratory birds. Late afternoon drive to the lodge via the Great East African Rift Valley for sunset watch then to Siafu Serenity Lodge for dinner & overnight.

Overnight at Siafu Serenity Lodge in Karatu – all meals included

After breakfast depart for Serengeti National Park the drive is via the beautiful high lying farmland of Karatu all the way to Ngorongoro gate for check in. Then drive up to the Crater view point where you can stop for some nice pictures of the Crater floor from the rim. Afterwards drive around and down via Malanja depression to Serengeti plains. On the way you will visit one of Masai village for some cultural encounter whereby a group of Masai warriors invites you and takes you in and around their houses with stories of their livelihood around this area, you will meet children and other family member. You can ask questions and take pictures with them. Lastly, they will sing and dance their famous song which involves jumping high – you may join the dancing if you wish.

Then drive to the wildlife-rich Serengeti National Park with its endless rolling plains. Reach Naabi Hills gate for registration, you can have your packed lunch here or further ahead at Kopjes (rocky outcropping) before starting your afternoon game drive into the vast Serengeti plain searching for big cats and the great wildebeest migration (depending on traveling dates). Late afternoon before or during sunset drive to your camp for dinner and overnight.

Overnight at Serengeti Kenzani Luxury Tented Camp or similar at Central Serengeti – all meals included

On this day, as early as 06:30 hours, set off with a breakfast box and lunch box for an early morning game drive in the vast Serengeti plains with the possibility of spotting some of the cat family on the road as they usually spend their morning time on the road avoiding the morning mist. You may also see other nocturnal predators coming back from their long night of hunting or a group of lionesses organizing the morning ambush. Break for breakfast in the bush then drive to where the wildebeest migration is to spend much time with the herds. (This will depend on traveling dates and if they will be in the Central Serengeti) but with or without the migration of herds, the Serengeti is still the best place to visit just as much as always. Later in the afternoon start your way to Ngorongoro Conservation Area with en-route game drive, arriving at Siafu Serenity Lodge for sunset watch, dinner and overnight.

Overnight at Ngorongoro Siafu Serenity Lodge at the Crater rim or Similar in Karatu town – all meals included

As early as 6:30 am descend 600 meters into the crater floor for wonderful game viewing. Ngorongoro Crater is referred by many as the 8th natural wonder of the world. Supported by a yearly supply of water and food, the Crater supports a larger number of animal species which include herds of wildebeest, buffalo, zebra, eland, topi, warthog, hippos, African elephant and the rare species of black rhino. Another big draw card to this picturesque Crater is its dense population of predators which include lions, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals as well as the ever-mysterious leopard which sometimes needs a binoculars eye to spot. You will visit Lake Magadi, a large shallow alkaline lake on the southwest corner of the Crater frequently accommodate hippos and some flocks of flamingos and other aquatic birds. With a bit of luck, the ‘Big Five’ can be seen in just one day of game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater. A picnic lunch will be served at the crater floor. In afternoon drive out and return back Karatu for overnight

Overnight at Siafu Serenity Lodge in Karatu – all meals included

Distance: Karatu – Manyara – Lake Manya – Lake Eyasi – 80 km. Non-Game Viewing time: 1 to 2 hours.

After breakfast, drive to Lake Manyara National Park. This park is placed at the most dramatically location with lot of underground water streams that makes it green throughout the year. Overlapping habitats and permanent water supply attracts large number of animals including herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, giraffe hippos and many antelopes. Primates like baboon, velvet monkeys, blue monkey and others also inhabite this park. Lake Manyara tree climbing lions and larger flocks of flamingos are the highlights of this park. After lunch in one of the picnic sites inside the park, the safari continues as you drive to Lake Eyasi for a cultural encounter. The driving is up and across the Great Rift Valley escarpment, reaching Lake Eyasi after about 1.5 hours. You will visit the Datoga tribe ‘the black smith’ who will take you around their homes and you will interact with them and ask as many questions as you can, then you will visit the black smith. Later in the afternoon you will walk along the lake shore for wonderfully sunset before driving to Arusha airport.